Vancouver Bandits continue a solid season start

JEN FIELD/GATG

The Vancouver Bandits faced the Edmonton Stingers in their third game of the season on May 24, 2025. 

The Bandits entered the game with two wins in their pocket. The Stingers on the other hand haven’t started their season on the best foot, with a 1-2 win record, and all three of those games ultimately coming down to the wire.

Both teams had a bit of a messy first quarter, trading blows, baskets and steals. The Bandits gave up the first basket. A trend that first appeared in their preseason game against the Sikh Warriors.

The game stayed close until the end of the first quarter with the Bandits only four points ahead of the Stringers. 

Things started to heat up for the home team in the second quarter, starting with a three point basket from Shamar Givance and ending with a buzzer-beating two pointer by Izaiah Brockington.

Mitch Creek started to find his groove, dominating the game and tying the franchise single-game scoring record with 36 points. Tyrese Samuel had set the record a week prior.  In addition, Creek had 7 rebounds and 4 assists. 

He’s not letting it go to his head though; “Three days ago, I didn’t have a big game, but maybe my impact is just as impactful as it was tonight. Just because I put some points on the board doesn’t mean that’s the reason why we won. Tyrese [Samuel] has 36 in the first game, and people go ‘Wow he had 36 I didn’t even see that. I thought he had 20 and 10.’ That’s a sign of a great team, because we’re coached the right way.”

The Bandits continued the upward trend with an explosive third quarter, something they’ve worked to improve upon since last season. 

Creek continued driving to the basket, while Kyle Mangas made some effortless three point shots, and the rest of the team brought the physicality.

By the fourth quarter, the Bandits were ahead with 80 points to the Stingers 63. The Stringers fought hard and brought their own physicality in an effort to make the game closer. 

They rallied to try and keep the Bandits on their toes for the Target Score, but it wasn’t enough. Kyle Mangas sealed the deal with a three point basket; his fourth of the game and the tenth of the night for the Bandits.

After the game, coach Kyle Julius gave a couple of reasons as to why the Bandits come out on top despite some slow starts.

“I just think it’s the character of the group as a whole. You know, the sum of the parts. These guys are great guys. Everytime I come in the gym, you know, they’re early, they stay late, they care.”

That character has helped to develop positive habits on and off the court.

“I think we’re in really good shape, like we work really hard. We really, really spend a lot of time on our conditioning…I want to practice hard, and I want guys that are here that want to practice hard. I think that what’s happening is our conditioning. I think we’re going blow for blow with teams in the first quarter, and our conditioning is starting to kick in in the second quarter and third quarter.”

The star of the game, Mitch Creek, shared a similar sentiment post game and how they focus on staying in the present, even when the game starts off slow. 

Creek credits that mindset to habits built off-court surrounding recovery, mental, physical and spiritual needs, with an emphasis on mindfulness and self talk.

“That’s why guys can just play in the moment, and then if I yell at you, or I say something to you, you don’t take it personally. You take it on the chin, and you say ‘Yep, I hear what you’re saying. I’ve got to do better’ but that means that I’m holding you accountable, so I have to uphold that standard as well and everyone’s doing it. So we’re very receptive, but it’s easy for us to have a conversation, perform the action or hold each other accountable because there’s great guys on the bench that are willing to come in.”

The Bandits hope to continue to build on that mindset and success when they hit the road this week, taking on the Winnipeg Sea Bears and facing the Stingers again, before hosting the Calgary Surge back home at the Langley Event Center on June 1, 2025.